4 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



during the trip. Up at daylight ; buckets of water poured over 

 us on deck ; a light breakfast, consisting of a cup of coffee and 

 a biscuit, with a glass of sherry and quinine to keep off jungle 

 fever (which I am glad to say it did from both of us during the 

 whole five weeks we spent in the jangle) ; land and work till 

 between twelve and two p.m. ; then return to the boat, wash, 

 change, clean our guns, and sit down to the meal of the day 

 with an enormous appetite ; this over about three generally, we 

 smoke, talk, and loll about till dark (unless we go on shore 

 again) ; then some soup, &c. ; after that a smoke, put up mosquito 

 curtains, and turn in about eight o'clock. 



I need not describe each day's work, for the blank days were 

 the rule rather than the exception. For four days we worked 

 hard and saw nothing but a couple of sambur deer (the largest 

 kind of deer in the East), but did not get a shot at them, 

 chiefly owing to the stupidity of the guides in front. I began 

 to think this rather slow work, and a poor reward for having 

 one's blood sucked all day by leeches (of which there were any 

 number in the swamps), and by mosquitoes all night, and 

 sleeping on a mat with a couple of bags of shot for a pillow. 



September 8. — Yesterday, however, our luck began to change 

 a little. In the evening previous we had shot some pigeons as 

 they flew over the boat to roost ; and in the night we heard 

 elephants roaring at no great distance from the river. We were 

 up before dawn, and landed in search of them. After moving 

 for about half an hour through forest with thickish jungle, the 

 guide suddenly stopped, whispering " gaja " (elephants) ; and 

 Tuanko Solong, as the old hand of the party, led up to them. 

 We got within twenty-five yards without, I think, their being 

 aware of our approach, and creeping up with Tuanko (C. close 

 behind), I could just make out the huge head of an elephant facing 

 us, and apparently watching us. I put up the big 10-bore 

 rifle, and blazed quickly at his right temple, Tuanko firing at 

 the same time. A tremendous row ensued, hardly anything 

 being for some time visible for the smoke, which always hangs 

 a great deal in the thick jungle. Three elephants made off to 



